AILA Opposes Obama Administration’s Decision to Resume Deportations to Haiti
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
CONTACTS:
George Tzamaras or Jenny Levy
202-507-7649
202-507-7628
gtzamaras@aila.org
jlevy@aila.org
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) expresses deep disappointment with and opposes the decision of the Obama Administration to resume deportations to Haiti which had been suspended since a catastrophic earthquake devastated the country last January. The retrospective policy announcement by the White House came after 27 immigrants were already deported to the disaster torn country which is also confronting a cholera outbreak. One of the deportees already has died, and others have taken ill.
"First and foremost, we urge the Administration to suspend deportations to Haiti until conditions in that country have substantially improved," said David Leopold, President of AILA. "AILA recognizes the importance of immigration enforcement and the value of ensuring public safety. However, the U.S. government should not be deporting people to life-threatening situations. AILA urges the Administration to reconsider this move and to return to its previous policy suspending deportations to Haiti until conditions there enable the country to deal with deportees."
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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.